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{
"id": 1554062,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1554062/?format=api",
"text_counter": 640,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Tharaka, UDA",
"speaker_title": "Hon. George Murugara",
"speaker": null,
"content": " Hon. Temporary Speaker, I beg to move the following Motion: THAT, taking into consideration the findings of the Departmental Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs in its Report on the vetting of a nominee for appointment as Principal Secretary, laid on the table of the House on Tuesday, 8th April 2025, and pursuant to the provisions of Article 155(3)(b) of the Constitution, this House approves the appointment of Hon. Judith Nayiai Ramaita Pareno as the Principal Secretary, State Department for Justice, Human Rights and Constitutional Affairs. I wish to confirm that the Report was tabled in the House yesterday. I believe each Members has had a copy to look at and make a decision as regards the proposed approval of the principal secretary nominee to the State Department for Justice, Human Rights and Constitutional Affairs."
},
{
"id": 1554063,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1554063/?format=api",
"text_counter": 641,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Tharaka, UDA",
"speaker_title": "Hon. George Murugara",
"speaker": null,
"content": "In compliance with Article 118 of the Constitution, we invited members of the public to make their written statements on oath regarding the nominee. We confirm that we did not receive any memorandum contesting the suitability of the nominee. Let it be on record that the vetting process, which is purely to establish the suitability of the nominee, is not an examination. It is also not about qualifications and other factors, but purely to ensure that the person nominated is suitable for the position and has the ability to discharge the functions that are bestowed on that office."
},
{
"id": 1554064,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1554064/?format=api",
"text_counter": 642,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Tharaka, UDA",
"speaker_title": "Hon. George Murugara",
"speaker": null,
"content": "Hon. Temporary Speaker, we also requested for the background checks from entities including the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP), Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) and the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC). All of them, including Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), cleared the nominee. Having considered how the appointment was done, we were satisfied that the right procedure was followed and the recommendations were taken to the President, who made the nomination in accordance with the Public Service Commission (PSC) Act. We then went into analysing whether the nominee satisfies the appointment according to Chapter 6 of the Constitution. We confirmed that she is a Kenyan citizen and does not hold dual citizenship. She has vast experience, having served in various public and leadership positions, including as a Member of the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA), a Senator, and The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
},
{
"id": 1554065,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1554065/?format=api",
"text_counter": 643,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Tharaka, UDA",
"speaker_title": "Hon. George Murugara",
"speaker": null,
"content": "running the elections in one of the biggest parties in the country. She possesses the requisite professional experience. We also confirmed her knowledge on matters relating to State Law Office and functions of the Government in that office. She demonstrated deep understanding of the goals and policies of development for our country."
},
{
"id": 1554066,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1554066/?format=api",
"text_counter": 644,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Tharaka, UDA",
"speaker_title": "Hon. George Murugara",
"speaker": null,
"content": "She demonstrated good leadership and management skills. She met all the requirements of Chapter Six of the Constitution regarding leadership and integrity. Furthermore, the suitability of the nominee was assessed after scrutiny of her background, academic credentials and professional qualification, which all enabled her to pass the vetting. The Committee noted the importance of streamlining the functions of that office with the Office of the Solicitor-General. As this is a new office, some form of Executive Order may be required to state exactly what the principal secretary nominee is going to do vis a vis what the Solicitor-General does in the State Law Office."
},
{
"id": 1554067,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1554067/?format=api",
"text_counter": 645,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Tharaka, UDA",
"speaker_title": "Hon. George Murugara",
"speaker": null,
"content": "Therefore, having considered all the matters that were before us, Hon. Temporary Speaker, we were persuaded that Hon. Judith Nayiai Ramaita Pareno, is suitable for appointment as Principal Secretary in the State Department for Justice, Human Rights and Constitutional Affairs. I beg to move that we approve the appointment of the principal secretary nominee, whom we now present to this House for approval."
},
{
"id": 1554068,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1554068/?format=api",
"text_counter": 646,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Tharaka, UDA",
"speaker_title": "Hon. George Murugara",
"speaker": null,
"content": "With those many remarks, I beg to move and request Hon. Eckomas Mwengi Mutuse, the Vice Chairman of the Departmental Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs, to second the Motion. Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker."
},
{
"id": 1554069,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1554069/?format=api",
"text_counter": 647,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Hon. Peter Kaluma",
"speaker_title": "The Temporary Speaker",
"speaker": {
"id": 1565,
"legal_name": "George Peter Opondo Kaluma",
"slug": "george-peter-opondo-kaluma"
},
"content": " Hon. Mwengi Mutuse."
},
{
"id": 1554070,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1554070/?format=api",
"text_counter": 648,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Kibwezi West, MCCP",
"speaker_title": "Hon. Mwengi Mutuse",
"speaker": null,
"content": " Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I rise to second the Motion that Hon. Judith Pareno be approved by this House for appointment as the principal secretary in the State Department for Justice, Human Rights and Constitutional Affairs in the Republic of Kenya. Hon. Chairman has enumerated the procedural legal requirements that we went through, and we were satisfied in the process of recruitment. Hon. Judith Pareno is an advocate of many years' standing. She comes from Mashuru in Kajiado County. This implies that she is a Maasai woman. In fact, she was among the first Maasai women to become lawyers in the Republic of Kenya. It is a matter of public notoriety that Maasai women are among the most marginalised in the Republic of Kenya. Our Constitution demands that we mainstream minorities and those who are marginalised. Therefore, this nomination and eventual appointment, upon approval by this House, will satisfy that very important constitutional requirement that the marginalised also get a space on the leadership and governance table. Hon. Temporary Speaker, Hon. Judith Pareno is not a stranger in leadership matters. She has been the Chairperson of the Elections Board of one of the oldest parties in the Republic of Kenya, the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM). The evidence that was presented before the Committee is to the effect that she has run that organisation quite professionally, and managed the nominations for the party for successive elections in a manner that has entrenched the interests of electoral justice in the party, as well as internal democracy. We asked her how she would transition from partisan politics to being a person who is going to serve every Kenyan, because not all Kenyans belong to her political party or persuasion. I am convinced, just like the Committee, that she is capable of serving all Kenyans, irrespective of their political persuasions. Hon. Judith Pareno, like my Chairman has stated, has been appointed to an important docket that will be dealing with human rights, justice and constitutionalism. Our Constitution 2010 has one of the most robust Bill of Rights in Africa, and I dare say in the world. As such, it is important to mainstream human rights issues at the highest level of Government. There The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
},
{
"id": 1554071,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1554071/?format=api",
"text_counter": 649,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Kibwezi West, MCCP",
"speaker_title": "Hon. Mwengi Mutuse",
"speaker": null,
"content": "was nobody better to do that other than a Maasai woman lawyer who has been in the human rights circles all her time. Therefore, I persuade colleagues, Members of Parliament, that it is important to approve this nomination for eventual appointment. Hon. Chairman has stated that, as we look at the Constitution, it is also important to look at the Office of the Attorney-General Act. It designates the Solicitor-General as the accounting officer of the State Law Office. It also designates him as the administrative head of the State Law Office. The Constitution, on the other hand, gives the administrative leadership of State departments to principal secretaries. That is why we have recommended, in our Report to the appointing authority – that is His Excellency the President - that he issues an executive order on the organisation of the Government. It will clarify the roles of the new Principal Secretary for the State Department for Justice, Human Rights and Constitutional Affairs vis-a-vis the statutory mandate bestowed on the Solicitor-General under the Office of the Attorney-General Act. We are convinced that this is important to be done in order to cause operational harmony so that the two offices do not clash. Having said that, and because this is not about the appointee, we are well aware that it is within the powers of His Excellency the President to create offices. When an office is created and somebody is nominated to it, even if there is a clash, that cannot be put to them, but to the appointing authority. Hon. Judith Pareno met all the requirements and most importantly, she satisfies an important requirement of marginalisation of women from the Maasai Community. In fact, she will be among the first women from the Maasai Community to become principal secretaries in the Republic of Kenya. In the interest of affirmative action and of upholding professionalism, the nominee is a professional who was admitted as an advocate in the year 1996; in the interest of upholding the rights of women, because women also deserve to be principal secretaries; in the interest of mainstreaming issues of human rights in our governance systems, so that every other decision that is being taken by Government, there would be an element of human rights in it, I urge the House to consider the Motion and approve the nomination of Hon. Judith Pareno to be a principal secretary, as appointed."
}
]
}